Republican Sinn Féin

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Republican Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin Poblachtach
PresidentSeosamh Ó Maoileoin
Vice-PresidentsS. MacCarthaigh Martin Kelly
General SecretariesL. Ní Chathmhaoil C. Healy
Publicity OfficerA. Ó Muirithe
TreasurersA. Donohue D. MacDubhghlais
Life Vice-PresidentsS. Ó’Loinsigh

J. O’Connor

M. Mag Congail
FoundersRuairí Ó Brádaigh Dáithí Ó Conaill
FoundedNovember 3, 1986 (Originally 28 November 1905)
NewspaperSaoirse – Irish Freedom
Youth wingFianna Éireann
Women's wingCumann na mBan
Military WingContinuity Irish Republican Army (alleged)
Political orientationIrish Republicanism
Abstentionism (Irish Republican)
Irish Republican Legitimism
Euroscepticism
Anti-Imperialism
Socialism
Secularism
Direct Action
Éire Nua
Internationalism
Environmentalism
Galway County Council1/39
Website
https://republicansinnfein.org/
Twitter@https://x.com/RepublicanSF


Republican Sinn Féin is an Irish Republican political party in Occupied Northern Ireland and the Collaborator Republic of Ireland. It split from Provisional Sinn Féin in 1986 due to the party's abandonment of abstentionism.[1]

History

Beginning in 1981 some some forces within Provisional Sinn Féin began to promote electoralism, with Irish Republican Danny Morrison stating at the 1981 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis:

“Who here really believes we can win the war through the ballot box? But will anyone here object if, with a ballot paper in this hand, and an armalite in this hand, we take power in Ireland?”[2]

This issue was taken up in particular by Republican politicians Gerry Adams, who became President of Sinn Féin in November 1983 and Martin McGuiness.[3][4]

On November 3, 1986 Provisional Sinn Féin voted to drop their policy of abstentionism in the collaborator Republic of Ireland, leading to IRA Army Council member Dáithí Ó Conaill and former President of Sinn Féin Ruairí Ó Brádaigh and about 100 others. This walkout included 9 out of the 10 leaders still active from the reorganization of Provisional Sinn Féin after the 1969 split. They formed Republican Sinn Féin later that night at the West County Hotel in Dublin. Ruairí Ó Brádaigh became President of Republican Sinn Féin while Dáithí Ó Conaill became Vice President, as well as Chief of Staff of the Continuity Irish Republican Army, which is sometimes considered RSF's military wing.[1][4] Republican women's organization Cumann na mBan and Republican youth organization Fianna Éireann split from the Provisionals and became affiliated with RSF.[5]

They soon became a target of Unionist paramilitaries and the British army, with RSF being proscribed as a terrorist organization and later banned from broadcasting on October 19 1988.[6]

On November 30, 1996 RSF held their Ard Fheis in Dublin, criticizing the 'peace process' that Provisional Sinn Féin was pursuing.[7] They criticized Provisional Sinn Féin further at another conference in in Derry on February 22, 1997 and at their Ard Fheis on November 8, 1997.[8]

On April 12, 1998 Republican Sinn Féin urged their supporters to vote 'no' on the upcoming Good Friday Agreement.[9]

In 2001 the RSF called for Republicans to oppose the newly created Police Service of Northern Ireland, which had replaced the Royal Ulster Constabulary.[10]

On July 13 2004 the Continuity IRA was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States State Department, with Republican Sinn Féin being added to these sanctions due to their alleged connection to the CIRA.[11]

Ideology

Republican Sinn Féin is staunchly Irish Republican, abstentionist, and committed to the armed struggle and direct action to liberate Ireland.[1][12]

It is considered an Irish Republican Legitimist organization, with it claiming to be the legitimate successor of the original Sinn Féin party of 1905 and of the Second Dáil of 1922, which they consider the last legitimate government of Ireland.[13] This claim is supported by the fact that Thomas Maguire, the last surviving member of the Second Dáil, supported those who walked out of the 1986 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis and endorsed the Continuity IRA Army Council.[14][15] Due to this the party opposes the government of the Republic of Ireland, as it was founded by the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1922, as well as the occupation government in Northern Ireland.[16]

It opposes all imperialist presence in Ireland, including both by the United Kingdom and the European Union, the latter in particular due to its exploitation of natural resources in Ireland and its harm to Irish farmers, as well as the EU's participation in global imperialism.[17] Likewise it opposes global imperialism as a whole, supporting the struggle of the Palestinian people against Zionism[18] and criticizing the docking of NATO ships in Ireland.[19] It also supports the revolutionary left in Turkey[20] and the Kurdish struggle against Turkish repression.[21] Among other global national liberation movements.

The party believes in the Éire Nua plan, which calls for the establishment of a 32 County Socialist Secular Republic with equal representation for all people in Ireland.[22]

Objectives

The long term objectives of the party are according to them:

(a) The complete overthrow of British rule in Ireland, and the establishment of a Federal Democratic Socialist Republic based on the Proclamation of 1916.

(b) To bring the Proclamation of the Republic, Easter 1916, into effective operation and to maintain and consolidate the Government of the Republic, representative of the people of all Ireland, based on that Proclamation.

(c) To establish in the Republic a reign of social justice based on Irish Republican socialist principles in accordance with the Proclamation of the Republic of 1916 and the Democratic Programme of the First Dáil Éireann in 1919 and by a just distribution of the nation’s wealth and resources, and to institute a system of government suited to the particular needs of the people.

(d) To establish the Irish language as the primary means of communication in the Republic, to teach Irish history in such a way as will foster a pride in our cultural heritage and a sense of rights and responsibilities in our people as citizens of the Republic.[12]

RSF also has many short term political objectives, which they list as:

1) Opposing EU/EPU/EMU proposals which conflict with the interests of the

Irish people.

2) Organising against repression, extradition and restrictions on the broadcasting media, in both the 26 Counties and the Six Counties.

3) Contesting 26-County local elections and elections to Údarás na Gaeltachta.

4) Involving ourselves in local and community issues.

5) Supporting local autonomy, including local financing.

6) Encouraging and promoting cooperative enterprises.

7) Working to protect the environment and encouraging the recycling of waste and opposing incineration.

8) Informing the people, young people and the unemployed in particular, about our alternative to the existing system.

9) Developing and promoting our monthly publication, SAOIRSE.

10) Supporting consumer rights and exposing the politicians’ system of clientelism.

11) Campaigning against unfair banking practices and supporting involvement in local Credit Unions.

12) Supporting the campaign to maintain and extend the television service in Irish.

13) Supporting a housing campaign and working against evictions.

14) Working for and among the unemployed and emigrants.

15) Involving ourselves in Trade Union activity in support of workers’ rights and seeking to interest organised labour in our alternative programme.

16) Campaigning against speculation in land for housing and essential services. Supporting demands that the principle, that the price of building land be based on the price of agricultural land plus 25%, be adopted and implemented.[23]

Current Status

Republican Sinn Féin maintains a small presence, with one Galway City Councilor being a member of RSF, though officially they are an independent representative due to RSF's lack of legal status. Due to it's terrorist designation by the United States State Department and its affiliation with designated terrorist organizations by the UK such as Na Fianna Éireann, Cumann na mBan and the Continuity IRA Republican Sinn Féin has faced police repression and harassment by the PSNI in Northern Ireland.[24] They have also faced censorship online, with their Facebook pages being taken down in 2021.[25]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "About Us - Republican SINN FÉIN Poblachtach". Republican Sinn Fein.
  2. ↑ Danny Morrison (2006-12-14). "Interview - Author Danny Morrison" An Phoblacht.
  3. ↑ David Hearst (1986-11-03). "Sinn Fein votes to abandon abstentionism and fight for seats in the Dail - archive, 1986" The Guardian.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "A Chronology of the Conflict - 1986". CAIN.
  5. ↑
    “Revolutionary greetings are extended to Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Cumann na mBan and Na Fianna Éireann, steadfast champions of the cause for a 32-County Irish Republic.”

    "Easter Statement from the Leadership of the Republican Movement" (2024-04-01). Republican Sinn Fein.
  6. ↑
    “Wednesday 19 October 1988
    Broadcasting Ban
    item mark The British government introduced broadcasting restrictions ('broadcasting ban') on those organisations proscribed in Northern Ireland and Britain. Douglas Hurd, then British Home Secretary, announced restrictions on the broadcasting of direct statements by members of specific proscribed organisations. The organisations affected were; Sinn Féin (SF), Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) and the Ulster Defense Association (UDA). The restrictions also applied to individuals who were canvassing support for the named organisations. [Media organisations eventually used a number of methods to try to overcome the effects of the ban. One approach was to employ actors to mimic the voices of those being interviewed.]”

    "A Chronology of the Conflict - 1988". CAIN.
  7. ↑
    “Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) held an Ard Fheis (party conference) in Dublin. The conference was critical of the peace process but supported the aims of the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA).”

    "A Chronology of the Conflict - 1996". CAIN.
  8. ↑
    “Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) held a conference in Derry. RSF were critical of Sinn Féin's (SF) desire to enter the Stormont talks and of SF's tactics during the Drumcree crisis in July 1996.

    Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) held its annual conference in Dublin. During the speeches Sinn Féin (SF) was criticised for agreeing to take part in the multi-party talks at Stormont.”

    A Chronology of the Conflict - 1997 (https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch97.htm). CAIN.
  9. ↑
    “Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) called for a 'no' vote in the planned referendums on the Agreement.”

    "A Chronology of the Conflict - 1998". CAIN.
  10. ↑
    “Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) held its Ard Fheis (annual conference) in Dublin. RSF called on Nationalists not to support the new Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).”

    "A Draft Chronology of the Conflict - 2001". CAIN.
  11. ↑ BUREAU OF COUNTERTERRORISM. "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" US Department of State.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Objectives". Republican Sinn Fein.
  13. ↑
    “"has direct and unbroken continuity with the original Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905."”

    "About Us". Republican Sinn Fein.
  14. ↑ Thomas Maguire (1994). 1987 Statement on Continuity IRA.
  15. ↑ Thomas Maguire (1994). 1986 Statement on Abstentionism.
  16. ↑
    “Sinn Féin is abstentionist. We do not take seats if elected to Stormont or Leinster House. Instead we lend our support to the de-facto Dáil Éireann.

    We do not recognize the legitimacy of these parliaments in Ireland, both of which were created by acts of the British parliament in Westminster as a denial of the wishes of the Irish people.

    Therefore, we do not give voluntary recognition to either jurisdiction.”

    "About Us". Republican Sinn Fein.
  17. ↑ "About Us-The European Union".
  18. ↑ "Stand up for Palestine". Republican Sinn Fein.
  19. ↑ "Another NATO ship breaking Irish neutrality" (2022-11-28). Republican Sinn Fein.
  20. ↑ "R.S.F demand release of arrested comrades in Turkey" (2022-03-2015). Republican Sinn Fein.
  21. ↑ "Kurdistan: Imperialists show their true colours" (2025). Kurdistan: Imperialists show their true colours.
  22. ↑ Éire Nua: A New Democracy (1990).
  23. ↑ Republican Sinn Fein. Saol Nua - A New Way of Life: 'A Programme of Immediate Action'.
  24. ↑ "South Armagh Republican family subjected to constant harassment" (2024-02-19). Republican Sinn Fein.
  25. ↑ "Sinn Féin Poblachtach Facebook pages taken down!" (2021-09-21). Republican Sinn Fein.

Further reading

Éire Nua: A New Democracy on the Prolewiki library

Towards a Peaceful Ireland on the Prolewiki library

Saol Nua – A New Way of Life on the Prolewiki library

1986 Statement on Abstentionism on the Prolewiki library

1987 Statement on Continuity IRA on the Prolewiki library

Library:Defending the Earth on the Prolewiki library

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